Ancient Ruins of Turkey - Limited Edition

Days

14

Price from

$2,620USD

Open the extensive history book that is Turkey

There are few places as historically rich as Turkey and this Limited Edition trip takes you off the tourist path to delve deeper into the ancient worlds that lie half-hidden across the landscape. Countless civilisations have called this wondrous terrain home – Bronze Age people like the Hittites, the Achaemenid Persian Empire, the Greeks, Romans, Alexander the Great, the Byzantine Empire, the Seljuk and Ottoman empires – and they have all left incredible reminders strewn across the landscape. This fascinating mix of cultures and religions – pagan, Jewish, Christian, Muslim – offers up a wealth of treasures to discover. Beginning with the monuments of Istanbul, fly to Adiyaman and witness the colossi of the Commagene Kingdom atop Mount Numrut. Travel into Central Anatolia to see the influence of the once incredibly powerful and culturally advanced Suljuk Empire in Kayseri, then see the 5,000-year-old Kultupe kiln tablets. Explore the incredible rock-hewn churches that lie in the ‘fairy chimney’ landscape of Cappadocia, then discover the 14th-century BC capital of the Hittites near Ankara. The fantastically preserved Greco-Roman ruins of Ephesus and Pergamon lie near Izmir, while the monuments of Hierapolis compete with the amazing natural wonder of the travertines in Pamukkale. End with a Neolithic site and the ancient mountain top city of Sagalassos near Antalya, then return to Istanbul on a trip that will take you back in time and introduce you to new worlds.

Ancient Ruins of Turkey - Limited Edition

Open the extensive history book that is Turkey

There are few places as historically rich as Turkey and this Limited Edition trip takes you off the tourist path to delve deeper into the ancient worlds that lie half-hidden across the landscape. Countless civilisations have called this wondrous terrain home – Bronze Age people like the Hittites, the Achaemenid Persian Empire, the Greeks, Romans, Alexander the Great, the Byzantine Empire, the Seljuk and Ottoman empires – and they have all left incredible reminders strewn across the landscape. This fascinating mix of cultures and religions – pagan, Jewish, Christian, Muslim – offers up a wealth of treasures to discover. Beginning with the monuments of Istanbul, fly to Adiyaman and witness the colossi of the Commagene Kingdom atop Mount Numrut. Travel into Central Anatolia to see the influence of the once incredibly powerful and culturally advanced Suljuk Empire in Kayseri, then see the 5,000-year-old Kultupe kiln tablets. Explore the incredible rock-hewn churches that lie in the ‘fairy chimney’ landscape of Cappadocia, then discover the 14th-century BC capital of the Hittites near Ankara. The fantastically preserved Greco-Roman ruins of Ephesus and Pergamon lie near Izmir, while the monuments of Hierapolis compete with the amazing natural wonder of the travertines in Pamukkale. End with a Neolithic site and the ancient mountain top city of Sagalassos near Antalya, then return to Istanbul on a trip that will take you back in time and introduce you to new worlds.

Why we love this trip

The history of this region is etched in stone – see it with the 5,000 year old Kultupe kiln tablets, considered the earliest written documentation of life in Central Anatolia

Board a cable car to climb to the top of the magnificent mountain Acropolis of Pergamon, home to one of the ancient world’s most stunning theatres

The Cappadocia region is overflowing with both natural and manufactured wonders, from volcanic rock formations to the Sobesos excavation site – location of Roman Baths, agora and mosaics

Hike through the little-visited but very picturesque Sognali Valley in Cappadocia. Explore rock-hewn churches and cast your eye over of the intricate frescos of ancient sanctuaries like the Yilanli Kilise Church of the Serpent

Discover the Mediterranean and Pamphylia regions of Anatolia, travelling out to the ancient Greco-Roman city of Aspendos, know for a beautifully intact Roman theatre that’s perhaps the best preserved in the world

Is this trip right for you?

This trip involves a lot of walking, sometimes on rocky or slippery terrain such as the sites in Cappadocia. Please bring sturdy walking shoes. You also have the option to sit out many of the walks if you don't feel up to them.

You'll be covering a lot of land during the trip, which means a couple of very long days of driving. However the drives are broken up with interesting stops along the way.

Gallery

Itinerary

Welcome to Istabul, the continent-straddling metropolis that countless civilizations have called home. This trip begins with an early Welcome Meeting at 9am. We recommend arriving a day early if you cannot make this meeting. Following this briefing on trip logistics and the historical sites you’ll visit, begin your exploration of this historical peninsula. First stop is the Hippodrome, the stadium of the Byzantine Emperors and the scene of the Nika Riots and the odd chariot race. This is followed by the finest example of Byzantine architecture still standing. The stunning Hagia Sofia – church of the ‘Holy Wisdom’ – is an AD532 church that became a mosque and then a museum. The inside is as equally breathtaking, filled with excellent mosaics. Try some local kofte and a cold glass of Ayran for lunch, then finish the day’s exploration at Istanbul’s Archaeological Museum. This fascinating complex actually consists of three museums – the Museum of Ancient Orient (Eski Şark Eserleri Müzesi), the Tiled Pavilion Museum (Çinili Köşk Müzesi) and the Archaeology Museum (Arkeoloji Müzesi). Said to have been founded in the late 19th century to keep precious artefacts from being taken to Europe, the museum has large collections of Turkish, Hellenistic and Roman artefacts, including the Alexander Sarcophagus. You’ll have plenty of time to explore before getting to know your fellow travellers with an optional dinner in a local restaurant this evening.

Accommodation

Troya Balat Hotel or similar (1 night)

Meals Included

This morning after breakfast, transfer to Ataturk Airport for a flight to the city of Adiyaman, which is located in the Central Euphrates (approximately 2 hours). Part of the Fertile Crescent, Adiyaman sits at the crossroads of major ancient routes and has been occupied by many civilisations. This will be your base for exploring the famous stone heads of Mount Nemrut. On arrival, settle into your hotel and prepare for your sunset journey to the top of Nemrut Dağı (Mount Nemrut). See the ruins of Arsameia, a holy burial area built by King Antiochus I of the Commagene Kingdom in memory of his father almost two and a half thousand years ago. At the top of the mountain, Antiochus I also constructed a tomb-sanctuary for himself and surrounded it with statues of various gods and ancestors. The size and magnitude of the colossal stone heads is stunning, and the views from the summit are sublime, especially as the sun begins to set. Imagine the true size of the Colossi that would have flanked this sanctuary, and enjoy the unique sunset. Afterwards, return to your hotel in Adiyaman for the evening.

Notes: The path for the final ascent of 500 metres (approximately 20 minutes) on foot is rough and, in some places, steep. You will need good walking shoes.

Accommodation

Antiochos Hotel or similar (1 night)

Meals Included

Prepare for a long day of travel today as you make the journey to the Central Anatolian city of Kayseri (approximately 6.5 hours). This city, rich in historical monuments from the Seljuk period, is watched over by the extinct volcano of Mount Erciyes, which towers some 3,916 metres over it. In the 13th century the Seljuk Empire was one of the world’s most powerful and culturally advanced states, and the influence of its unique form of architecture, art and culture can still be witnessed in the city. The legacy of the Silk Road prevails too, with Kayseri known for the quality of its carpets and kilims. The city’s most famous export though is perhaps mantisi, or Turkish ravioli. Kayseri mantisi is tiny meat-filled ravioli, served with garlicky yoghurt sauce. On arrival, stretch your legs with a short orientation walk, perhaps keeping an eye out for distinctive cone-topped octagonal Seljuk tombs, then enjoy some of the delicious local cuisine.

Accommodation

Setenonu Hotel or similar (1 night)

Meals Included

Begin the day with a visit to Kayseri castle (or citadel), which was built on foundations constructed by the Romans, who used dark rock from the nearby volcano. The imposing building that you’ll see today can mostly be attributed to the powerful 13th-century Seljuk Sultan Alaattin Keykubat I, who added 19 towers and walls almost 3 metres thick. Stay with the Seljuk era with a visit to the Museum of Seljuk Civilisation, which is housed in the restored Çifte Medrese – originally the home of the Anatolia’s first school of anatomy. This afternoon, continue into the Cappadocia Region, making at stop at Kültepe en route. Excavation of this area revealed an ancient settlement dating back to around 2,000 BC, and the 5,000-year-old Kultupe kiln tablets unearthed here are considered to be the earliest written documentation of life in Central Anatolia. They are now part of the UNESCO Memories of the World Register. Travel on to the village of Mustafapasa, which features magnificent Greek Houses set among a back drop of Fairy Chimneys and rock cut churches. This is your base for the next three nights as you explore the Cappadocia Region.

Accommodation

Mustafapasa Cave Hotel or similar (1 night)

Meals Included

Take a relaxed walk around the village of Mustafapasa (called Sinasos until 1924) this morning, taking in the Hellenic-style houses of ornate carved stonework. Some are lovingly restored and others are crumbling, with their decorative doors hanging from hinges. You can tell that this was once a thriving Greek Orthodox community from the names and dates carved into the facades. After a relaxing morning familiarising yourself with the village, head out for your first hike. You’ll walk into the Soganli Valley, one of the least visited but most picturesque valleys in the region. This moderate hike will take around one hour, giving you the opportunity to visit several rock-cut churches and cast your eye over the intricate frescoes found inside – such as in the Yilanli Kilise Church of the Serpent. Sit down to a leisurely lunch in a garden surrounded by walnut trees, before returning to Mustafapasa via the Keslik Monastery. Find a rare iconoclastic example of Cappadocian frescoes and then continue to the Sobesos Excavation site, where archaeologists have only recently begun to uncover Roman baths, agora (central meeting spots in ancient Greek city states), and mosaics.

Accommodation

Mustafapasa Cave Hotel or similar (1 night)

Meals Included

This morning you have the option of taking a very early hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia to see this otherworldly scene at sunrise. Those who are interested in this optional extra will have a truly awe-inspiring experience. ‘Fairy Chimneys’ is a fitting nickname for the rock formations of Cappadocia. The odd shapes and caverns of this otherworldly landscape, former from the lava of volcanic eruptions in ancient times, often appear more like surrealist sculptures than the work of nature. After breakfast you’ll begin your exploration of Cappadocia’s main attraction: the World Heritage-listed Goreme Open Air Museum. It’s a monastic complex composed of churches, rectories and dwellings, and was one of the earliest centres for religious education. There are at least 10 churches and chapels in the museum area, dating between AD900 and 1200, with each one named after a prominent attribute by the local villagers who were exploring these caves long before there was an entrance fee. After lunch, consider browsing some of the region’s local handicrafts before continuing to the Underground City of Kaymakli. Beneath Cappadocia’s rock formations is a network of fascinating subterranean cities, which housed up to 10,000 people each as early as Hittite times. The Kaymakli city is the widest in the region and eight levels deep, and you have the opportunity to visit four of these levels today. Returning to Mustafapasa in the evening, you may want to consider a hamam to wash away the cave dust.

Accommodation

Mustafapasa Cave Hotel or similar (1 night)

Meals Included

This morning, depart the fantastical landscape of Cappadocia and travel to the nation’s capital – Ankara. After breakfast, journey approximately 2.5 hours to the ancient capital of the Hittite Empire and UNESCO-listed site of Hattusa. The earliest traces of settlement here date back over 8,000 years, but the Hittites wouldn’t claim the location as their capital until around the 16th century BC. The Hittihite Empire reached its height during the mid-14th century BC, when it took in an area that included most of Asia Minor as well as parts of the northern Levant and Upper Mesopotamia. The Hattusa site consists of the Hittite city area, the rock sanctuary of Yazılıkaya on the north, the ruins of Kayalı Boğaz on the east, and the İbikçam Forest on the south. A monumental enclosure wall of more than 8 kilometres in length surrounds the whole city, and there are secret tunnels, pre-Hittite royal tombs, and the famous symbols of the Sphinx Gate. After exploring this ancient capital, continue approximately 3.5 hours to the modern capital, where you’ll spend the evening.

Accommodation

Hotel Ankara or similar (1 night)

Meals Included

This morning, transfer to Ankara airport for a short flight to Izmir (approximately 1.5 hours). Izmir is Turkey’s third largest city and sits on an inlet on the Aegean coast. Settlement here dates back to 3,000 BC and today it’s a very cosmopolitan and outdoor city, with a modern, westernised feel. Izmir also has an important place in Turkey’s modern history, with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s arrival in Smyrna (modern day Izmir) on 9th September 1922 marking the effective end of the Turkish War of Independence. Take an orientation walk around the city and perhaps enjoy a “Taste Hunters” tour of city for dinner this evening, on which you’ll experience an eclectic fusion of traditional and modern street foods.

Accommodation

Boutique Hotel or similar (1 night)

Meals Included

Make an early start to visit the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus (approximately 1.5 hours). It is one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman classical cities in the world and Turkey's premier tourist site. Once the capital city of Roman Asia Minor, the city has a fascinating history, which really comes alive with a local guide to enhance the experience. Considering their age, the ruins are in incredible shape, and it’s not difficult to imagine them in their full glory 2,000 years ago. You will be awed by the sophistication of this ancient city – the theatre is well preserved and regularly hosts concerts, but it's perhaps the magnificent library that takes most people's breath away. The Terrace houses, offering a glimpse into family life during Roman era and filled with fine examples of mosaics, are a particular highlight. Visit Selcuk in the afternoon to enjoy lunch and some free time. There’ll be the opportunity to visit the newly renovated, artefact-filled Ephesus Archaeological Museum, with its best-known exhibit the statue of Artemis retrieved from the temple of the goddess in Ephesus. Just below the fortress atop Ayasoluk Hill are the ruins of the Basilica of St John, built by Justinian I in the 6th century. According to Christian tradition, St John came to Ephesus with the Virgin Mary from Jerusalem, and lived here until his death sometime around AD 100 – and the basilica stands over his believed burial site. Perhaps stay for dinner this evening and try local mezze and raki. You’ll spend another night in Izmir.

Accommodation

Boutique Hotel or similar (1 night)

Meals Included

Make the short journey to Bergama (approximately 1.5 hours), a city known for its cotton, gold and fine carpets. It’s also the location of the ancient Greek and Roman cultural centre of Pergamon. You’ll visit the splendid Roman ruins, taking the cable car up to the magnificent mountainside Acropolis. The 3rd century BC theatre here is one of the steepest in the world, with a capacity of 10,000 people. In the afternoon, visit the Asclepion. Named after Aesculapius, the god of Health and Medicine, this medical centre was the home of one of the fathers of Western medicine. On site is a small 3,500 capacity theatre and rooms where patients were cured by the sounds of water and music. Here the dreams of the patients were analysed by their doctors (priests) 2,000 years before Sigmund Freud was doing it. Bergama features some great Pide (Turkish-style pizza), so it’s recommended that you try some today. You’ll return to Izmir for the evening.

Accommodation

Boutique Hotel or similar (1 night)

Meals Included

Start the day at a leisurely place, not departing until mid-morning for the famous gleaming white travertines of Pamukkale. The name Pamukkale literally translates to “cotton castle”, and it’s here that spectacular natural hot springs with high calcium bicarbonate content cascade over the edge of the cliffs, leaving bright white deposit terraces that, from afar, resemble cotton or snow. The best time to experience the travertines is at sunset, so until then you can explore Pamukkale’s other highlight: Hierapolis. Founded by the King of Pergamon in 190 BC, the ancient city of Hierapolis is now an exceptional example of a Greco-Roman city, with an ancient spa established on an extraordinary natural site. Hydrotherapy was accompanied by religious practices, which developed in relation to local cults. The site is known for its abundance of temples and religious structures – the Temple of Apollo and the theatre in particular – while the vast necropolis offers an insight into the funerary practices of the Greco-Roman era. Though you won't be able to bathe in these travertines, you can take a walk through them (after removing your shoes), then bathe in a healing thermal pool that once belonged to Cleopatra. Spend the evening here in Pamukkale after experiencing the sun setting on the cotton castles.

Accommodation

Melrose House Hotel or similar (1 night)

Meals Included

Today makes up a long travel day, but there is plenty to see along the way. Step back a little further in time with a visit to the Hacilar Neolithic Site, approximately 2.5 hours from Pamukkale. 50 years ago, villagers at Burdur found some unique shards of pottery on a mound 25 kilometres from their property. When excavations began, mud-brick walls and floors on stone foundations dating back to 5,700 BC were discovered, along with clay goddess figurines in every house. Following your exploration of Hacilar, continue on to the city of Sagalassos (approximately 1.5 hours), an exciting discovery that’s a candidate for inscription on the UNESCO world Heritage list. Known as the “first city of Pisidia”, large-scale excavations started here in 1990, with a large number of buildings, monuments and other archaeological remains uncovered. The city was conquered in 333 BC by Alexander the Great and joined the Roman Empire 300 years later, with the Emperor Hadrian responsible for the monuments you see today. Surprisingly located up at 1,450 metres in the Western Taurus Mountains, the city is blessed with wonderful views. You’ll then continue on to Antalya, the largest city on the western Mediterranean coast (approximately 2.5 hours). Your accommodation is located in the wonderfully preserved old city district of Kaleici, and you’ll go on an early evening walk to see Hadrians Gate, the old Roman Harbour and the turquoise water of the Mediterranean.

Accommodation

Aspen Hotel or similar (1 night)

Meals Included

Enjoy some free time this morning to relax and explore this jewel in the Mediterranean Crown. With its palm-lined boulevard, internationally-acclaimed marina, castle, and old city that wraps around a splendid Roman-era harbour with cliff-top views of hazy-blue mountain silhouettes, Antalya is a wonderful place to explore. You may wish to take a guided tour of the Antalya Museum this morning, a great opportunity to learn more about the Mediterranean and Pamphylia regions of Anatolia. There are over 5,000 works of art and artefacts on display in 13 exhibition halls and open-air galleries, and the beautifully preserved statues in the Hall of Gods are not to be missed. After lunch, travel out to the ancient Greco-Roman city of Aspendos (approximately 1.5 hours), know for it’s beautiful intact Roman theatre that’s perhaps the best preserved in the world. Return to Antalya in the early evening and spend your last night with an optional dinner overlooking the Mediterranean, feasting on local seafood.

Accommodation

Aspen Hotel or similar (1 night)

Meals Included

This morning transfer to Antalya airport for your flight to Istanbul (approximately 1 hour). This journey through the cultures and lands of classical Turkey ends at Ataturk Airport. If you would like to spend more time in Istanbul we are happy to organise accommodation for you. Please speak to your booking agent to organise this.

Meals Included

Breakfast

Included Activities

Meals

13 breakfasts,
2 dinners

Transport

Private Vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (13 nights)

Meals

13 breakfasts,
2 dinners

Transport

Private Vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (13 nights)

Days

14

Price from

$2,620USD

Open the extensive history book that is Turkey

There are few places as historically rich as Turkey and this Limited Edition trip takes you off the tourist path to delve deeper into the ancient worlds that lie half-hidden across the landscape. Countless civilisations have called this wondrous terrain home – Bronze Age people like the Hittites, the Achaemenid Persian Empire, the Greeks, Romans, Alexander the Great, the Byzantine Empire, the Seljuk and Ottoman empires – and they have all left incredible reminders strewn across the landscape. This fascinating mix of cultures and religions – pagan, Jewish, Christian, Muslim – offers up a wealth of treasures to discover. Beginning with the monuments of Istanbul, fly to Adiyaman and witness the colossi of the Commagene Kingdom atop Mount Numrut. Travel into Central Anatolia to see the influence of the once incredibly powerful and culturally advanced Suljuk Empire in Kayseri, then see the 5,000-year-old Kultupe kiln tablets. Explore the incredible rock-hewn churches that lie in the ‘fairy chimney’ landscape of Cappadocia, then discover the 14th-century BC capital of the Hittites near Ankara. The fantastically preserved Greco-Roman ruins of Ephesus and Pergamon lie near Izmir, while the monuments of Hierapolis compete with the amazing natural wonder of the travertines in Pamukkale. End with a Neolithic site and the ancient mountain top city of Sagalassos near Antalya, then return to Istanbul on a trip that will take you back in time and introduce you to new worlds.

Dates & availability

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Important notes

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:
An optional single supplement is available on this trip. Please refer to your booking agent for further information.
Please note: single supplement rooms are smaller than double or twin rooms.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.